Cattle

Pasture grass is regarded as the cheapest feed for SA dairy cattle. In the first of a four- part series, Wim Hofman, cattle specialist for De Heus Animal Nutrition, of...

After good rainfall in many parts of the country, reports of severe wireworm infestations in smallstock were received.

Diligent grazing management is paying off for Jannie Struis. He has been farming for only four years, but working closely with his mentor, Johan van der Walt, has enabled him...

The ability to identify an animal in a way that will stand up in court is crucial for any livestock owner. Backed up by legislation and government support, it ensures...

Developing machine-shearing skills in the South African wool industry could arm shearers with the expertise to pursue potentially lucrative careers in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

The H-word might cause sceptics to cringe, but changing grazing and other practices is working wonders on this KwaZulu-Natal beef farm.

Fertility and optimum meat production are the two pillars of Diethelm and Katja Metzger’s Kamab Simbra Stud. The second-largest Simbra stud herd in Southern Africa, it produces about 370 weaners...

Arthur de Villiers of Arcadia Bonsmara near Vrede is the 2013 recipient of the ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award.

Chris Nel discusses traditional methods of identifying livestock. These methods may work well for day-to-day flock and herd management, but their limitations are apparent when subjected to the demands of...

Ted and Liz Reilly played a big role in putting the Swazi Nguni ecotype back on the map. Their cattle are run with game animals and receive no special treatment.

Weather conditions: Good rains fell in the eastern part of the country, but extremely dry conditions persist in the western and central regions. Very wet conditions occurred in some areas...

In the first of a series of articles, we look at the principles of animal and animal product traceability. Compiled by Chris Nel.

Starting with just 10 Bonsmaras, ARC National Emerging Beef Farmer for 2013 Moses Zengetwa today has a herd of 120 highly productive Bonsmara-type cows and heifers. Mike Burgess visited him...

Mvalo Msiza has value-added in steps – building a beef herd, establishing two butcheries, and starting and expanding a feedlot. He spoke to Peter Mashala.

Drought: It’s been very dry in SA’s western and central areas, and reports of severe protein and energy deficiencies were received. Heavy mortalities, downer cows, cows too weak to calf,...

Michiel van Niekerk runs a stud Nguni herd in the arid region of the western Free State between Petrusburg and Kimberley. For him, the economic realities of livestock farming mean...

Argentinian dairy farmer Francisco Mihura keeps his operation profitable by practising economies of scale and using home-grown food to lower his costs. Denene Erasmus was there.

The Agricultural Research Council’s Free State Emerging Beef Farmer for 2013, Robert Thekiso, farms more than 100 commercial Bonsmara cows on 669ha. Mike Burgess visited him.

In many parts of the country the drought took its toll, with reports of protein and energy deficiencies being received.

SA cattlemen increasingly recognise the Afrikaner’s competitive advantage, says Barry Steenkamp, co-owner of the Palmietkuil Afrikaner herd in the Vredefort area of the Free State. Annelie Coleman paid him a...